PITTSFIELD — More than half of the families enrolled in Berkshire County Head Start rely on federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits — and with benefits lapsing, families are struggling.

To help, the child care and early education organization is launching Harvest for Head Start. The initiative, which begins this month and will run for one year, is designed to address food insecurity and promote lifelong wellness across Berkshire County.

“This initiative helps fill that gap in a small way by ensuring families have access to healthy food and the support they need to navigate this period,” said Brett Random, executive director of Berkshire County Head Start, in an email to The Eagle.

As part of the program, Head Start will provide bi-monthly food baskets sourced from local farms, cooking and nutrition workshops and sports and movement activities such as soccer, basketball, dance and Zumba. The agency also announced on Monday that its community cupboard food pantry is now open for Head Start families and staff.

This announcement comes after SNAP benefits were temporarily suspended nationwide on Saturday — affecting some 22,000 Berkshire County residents.

Two federal judges on Friday ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use contingency funds to restore the program, ruling that halting payments was unlawful. But recipients are expected to receive only about half of their usual monthly amount, and it remains unclear when benefits will resume.

Head Start — which serves more than 250 children and their families in Berkshire County each year — offers preschool programming, with a focus on mental health, nutrition and making sure parents have the support they need, Random said.

The Harvest for Head Start initiative is being funded through a one-time grant of $175,000 from the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Head Start, Random said.

The grant was awarded before the federal government shutdown, Random said, “ensuring we could move forward without interruption at a time when many families are facing uncertainty.”

Berkshire Bounty is an “essential partner” in making the food distribution portion of the project possible, Random said. Berkshire Bounty is one of several organizations scrambling to boost donations, support the people they serve and help food pantries plan for what comes next.

The initiative will have a dual impact, Random said, adding that it will directly support families while also investing in the local food economy.

This year has been filled with challenges and moments of uncertainty for Head Start, with the potential elimination of funding from President Donald Trump’s administration, enrollment challenges and the need for more advocacy, forcing them to adapt.

This fiscal year, Berkshire County Head Start received $3,469,915 in federal funds for program operations, according to Random. She said for fiscal 2026, the House Appropriations Subcommittee has recommended flat funding for Head Start, which would “mark the third consecutive year of level funding, despite rising costs and increasing needs.”

In September, Random said the agency hadn’t experienced any funding cuts, and she said “that’s still the case for now.” The agency’s fiscal year begins in March, Random said, adding that other programs that have experienced disruptions started their fiscal year in October and November.

Head Start is aware of the challenges and is planning contingencies if they are presented with them.

“For the moment, we’re focusing on using the resources we do have to meet the most immediate needs of families, especially those impacted by the SNAP benefit pause,” Random said.